In the world of video games, few characters are as beloved as Mario, the mustachioed plumber who has been entertaining gamers for over three decades. And now, after years of speculation, it has been announced that Mario is set to make his return to the big screen in a brand new Super Mario movie.
The film is being produced by Illumination, the studio behind the wildly successful Despicable Me franchise, and will be distributed by Universal Pictures. The announcement of the movie was made in 2018, but since then, details about the project have been relatively scarce. However, in the years since the initial announcement, there have been a few tidbits of information that have come to light.
Firstly, it was revealed that the movie will be directed by Shigeru Miyamoto, the creator of the Mario franchise and one of the most influential figures in video game history. Miyamoto has been involved in every aspect of the Mario games, from the gameplay mechanics to the music, and his involvement in the movie is sure to be a major selling point for fans of the franchise.
In addition to Miyamoto, the movie has a star-studded cast of voice actors, with Chris Pratt set to play Mario, Anya Taylor-Joy as Princess Peach, Charlie Day as Luigi, Jack Black as Bowser, and many more. This is a particularly exciting aspect of the movie, as it suggests that the filmmakers are taking the project seriously and are committed to delivering a quality product.
One thing that is not yet known is the plot of the movie. It's safe to assume that it will involve Mario and his friends going on some kind of adventure to save the Mushroom Kingdom from Bowser, but beyond that, the details are anyone's guess. It's also unclear whether the movie will be a straight-up animated feature or whether it will incorporate live-action elements, as the ill-fated 1993 Super Mario Bros. movie did.
The new Super Mario movie is scheduled for release on December 21st, 2022, which means that we still have some time to wait before we get to see it. However, given the level of talent involved in the project and the enduring popularity of the Mario franchise, it seems likely that the movie will be a big success. Whether it will be able to overcome the stigma left by the 1993 movie and deliver a satisfying experience for fans remains to be seen, but one thing is for sure: millions of Mario fans around the world will be eagerly anticipating its release.